Tideline
Dynamic EQ, inspired by the dynamic equalisers mastering engineers reach for.
Tideline is an EQ band that only moves when it needs to: cut the boom only on the low notes, or lift the presence only in the quiet bits. With its own attack, release and a sidechain input.
The controls
- Frequency
- The band's centre, 30 Hz to 16 kHz.
- Q
- How narrow the band is: higher is narrower and more surgical.
- Gain
- A fixed boost or cut, always on.
- Threshold
- When the dynamic part starts.
- Range
- How far it moves when the band gets loud: negative cuts, positive boosts.
- Attack
- How quickly it reacts.
- Release
- How quickly it lets go.
Best for
- Taming boomy low notes on bass or vocals
- Harsh resonances that only appear when the singer gets loud
- Mastering: control one problem frequency without dulling the mix
- Ducking a frequency in one track when another plays (with the sidechain)
Starting points
Load Tideline, set these, then adjust by ear. In the plugin, Level match helps you judge the sound, not the loudness.
Boomy bass notes
Frequency 120, Q 2, Gain 0, Threshold -30, Range -6, Attack 10, Release 120
Harsh vocal
Frequency 3200, Q 3, Gain 0, Threshold -28, Range -5, Attack 2, Release 80
Kick space in the bass
Sidechain from the kick, Frequency 60, Q 1.5, Range -6, Attack 1, Release 80
Hints and tips
- Find the problem with a narrow Q, then widen it until it sounds natural.
- Use a negative Range for problems, a positive one to lift a frequency only when it's quiet.
- With the sidechain, make room in the bass for the kick only when the kick plays.
Chains it works best in
Every Original works in a chain with the others and with members' hardware. These are good places to start.
- Tideline then Mortar: control the low end, then glue
- Ferrum then Tideline: a rich vocal with the harshness tamed
- Tideline keyed from the kick, on the bass: a clean low end without permanent EQ cuts
Sidechain
Tideline listens to DigMusiK's sidechain when a key is connected: carve a frequency in one track only while another track plays.
Watch out for
- A very fast Attack and Release on low frequencies: it can distort.
Tideline is free
Like every DigMusiK plugin, Tideline is free for registered members: it's part of the platform, so the chains you hand on and send for approval play the same for everyone. Try it in your studio, on your own mix.